Solar Energy Today
Can It Save Your Community Money?

Energy costs are a major component in any housing environment, and one of the main areas where boards and managers look at to optimize efficiency and save money. One already popular — and growing — alternative to fossil fuels is solar energy. But how much solar can conceivably be produced in an urban environment, and how much will it really save?

Solar Efficiency

Contrary to popular belief, the efficiency of solar is more dependent on the angle of the solar panels than how hot or cold the environment is. “Cold doesn’t hurt the efficiency of solar energy,” says Brian Haug, a solar energy specialist with Continental Electrical Construction Company, which has offices in Illinois. “As a matter of fact, solar works better when it’s cooler.” (More on that later!)

That said, solar is not as simple as it looks. “If a co-op or condo wants solar on their building in an urban setting,” says Haug, “there are a few challenges. One is that rooftops are typically small, though a flat roof does not make a difference in efficiency. A smaller rooftop will limit the size of the solar array you can put there.” He adds that “with fewer sunny days, you may rely on other technologies too.” Solar will not meet 100 percent of your building’s energy needs. The question is, how much of your needs can be met by solar? The generally held consensus among solar professionals we spoke with is that solar can supply between 10 and 15 percent of a multifamily building’s energy needs.

How Does Your Solar Array Work?

When anyone–an individual owner or the co-op or condo–uses electricity, the usage is typically recorded on a meter. Individual metering is the standard method by which electrical companies account for what you use. Solar energy generation works in a kind of backwards way. “The power generated by the solar array back feeds into your panel,” says Haug. “When you generate more than you are using, the meter direction will reverse,” indicating a positive outflow, reducing your consumption from the municipal energy provider. “Generally, this energy production is funneled to the meter for the common areas in an apartment building that runs house loads like elevators, laundry room, hallway lights, etc. It can benefit the common usage, but won’t supply individual apartment needs.”

This presents an interesting situation for many buildings. Assuming a solar array on the roof could produce significantly more energy than the property uses for common area electrical needs, how would that energy be distributed to individual apartment owners? Such situations might call for a return to master metering.

CAI's Community Association Law Seminar is brought to you by the College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL). The program is developed each year as part of CCAL's commitment to advancing the knowledge and practice of community association law.​ The Law Seminar provides a unique learning opportunity to discuss emerging trends and legislative issues important to the practice of community a​ssociation law—as well as excellent opportunities for professional networking. For information, www.caionline.org.

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1/15/2019
Ayanna Pressley's Condo Hits Market For $409K - Patch

1/15/2019
Ayanna Pressley's Condo Hits Market For $409K - Patch

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1/3/2019
Home prices hit record high in November - Dorchester Reporter

1/3/2019
Home prices hit record high in November - Dorchester Reporter

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South Boston residents fed up with condo development are turning to elected leaders for help after they say the Boston Planning & Development Agency has ignored their concerns about a 1,300-unit housing development proposed to replace the old Edison power plant.
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New England Condominium

Welcome to the new online edition of New England Condominium newspaper. The publication serves the New England Condo, HOA and co-op community with informative free articles on management, finance, maintenance and more...